Elena Valova

Infobox Figure skater
title= Elena Valova


caption=
country= URS/RUS
dateofbirth= birth date and age|1963|1|4
residence=
height=
formerpartner= Oleg Vasiliev
formercoach= Tamara Moskvina
choreographer=
formerchoreographer=
skating club=
retired= 1988

Elena Aleksandrovna Valova ( _ru. Елена Александровна Валова) (born January 4, 1963) is a Russian pair skater who competed internationally for the Soviet Union. With partner Oleg Vasiliev, she is the 1984 Olympic Champion.

Biography

Valova was born in Leningrad, Russia, to parents Alla Borisovna Valova and Aleksander Dmitrievich Valov. She began training at age seven under Tatiana and Alexei Mishin and Nina Monahova. She was chosen for pair skating by coach Tamara Moskvina and was paired with Oleg Vasiliev. Valova represented VSS Trud.

The pair enjoyed success throughout their career, winning gold at the 1984 Olympics and silver in 1988, as well as winning several world championship titles. The competed in the amateur ranks from 1979 to 1988, and as professionals until 1995.

They were married from 1984-1992. Valova is now remarried to German Galusha and has a son, Roman, born in 1996. She moved to Pittsburgh, PA in 1997. She currently teaches skating at the Robert Morris University Island Sports Center and lives in Moon Township. She coached Kylie Gleason and Taylor Toth, who were the 2002 U.S. Champions in Juvenile Pairs and the 2003 U.S. Champions in Intermediate pairs.

Valova graduated from the P.F. Lesgaft University of Sports. She was awarded Order of Friendship of Peoples (1984). [cite book|title=Panorama of the 1984 Sports Year|year=1985|pages=p. 37|publisher=Physical Culture and Sports publisher|location=Moscow|language=Russian]

Trivia

*Valova and Vasiliev were the first Soviet skaters to turn professional.
*Their single coach throughout their amateur and professional careers was Tamara Moskvina.

Competitive Results by Season

1980- 1981
*Coup des Alpes - 1st
*Moscow News Cup - 3rd
1981-1982
*Grand Prix de Gervais - 2nd
*Skate America - 3rd
*Nebelhorn Trophy - 1st
*USSR National Championships - 5th
1982-1983
*Skate America - 1st
*Moscow News Cup - 3rd
*European Championships - 2nd
*World Championships - 1st
1983-1984
*Moscow News Cup - 1st
*European Championships - 1st
*Olympics - 1st
*World Championships - 2nd
1984-1985
*USSR National Championships - 2nd
*European Championships - 1st
*World Championships - 1st
1985-1986
*USSR National Championships - 1st
*European Championships - 1st
*World Championships - 2nd
1986-1987
*NHK Trophy - 1st
*European Championships - 2nd
*World Championships - 2nd
1987-1988
*Moscow News Cup - 2nd
*Olympics - 2nd
*World Championships - 1st
1989-1990
*World Professional Championships - 2nd
*World Challenge of Champions - 2nd
1990-1991
*World Professional Championships - 4th
*World Challenge of Champions - 5th
1991-1992
*World Professional Championships - 4th
*World Challenge of Champions - 4th
1992-1993
*US Open - 5th
*World Professional Championships - 4th
*World Challenge of Champions - 2nd
1993-1994
*Masters Miko - 3rd
*US Open - 2nd
*World Professional Championships - 3rd
*World Challenge of Champions - 3rd
1994-1995
*Canadian Professional Championships - 4th
1997-1998
*Legends - 2nd
* US Open - 5th

References

External links

* [http://www.valova-vasiliev.com Poetry in Motion]
* [http://www.pairsonice.net/profileview.php?pid=72 Pairs on Ice profile]

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